Breaking news
Thales unveiled the new FreeFall Lightweight Multi-role Missile (FFLMM) at Farnborough 2014.
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Farnborough
International AirShow 2014 International Aviation & Aerospace defence exhibition 14 - 20 July 2014 Farnborough , United Kingdom |
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Thales FFLMM at Farnborough AirShow 2014 |
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| Thales
unveiled the new FreeFall Lightweight Multi-role Missile (FFLMM) at Farnborough
2014 |
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Thales unveiled a new precision-guided air dropped munition, the FreeFall
Lightweight Multi-role Missile (FFLMM) during the Farnborough International
Airshow 2014. The FFLMM is a precision-guided glide munition. It contains
the same sophisticated warhead as Thales's existing LMM, but is approximately
half the size and weight because it does not incorporate a rocket motor.
This also means there is no launch recoil or adverse impact on the platform,
making it ideal for lightweight air platforms such as UAVs or COIN aircraft.
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 Thales FFLMM on a Britten Norman airfract at Farnborough 2014 |
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Thales
is the first European manufacturer to successfully demonstrate the delivery
of a weapon of this type from a tactical UAS platform. In a series of
trials over the last year the company has proven the extremely low impact
that the weapon and its stores release unit has on the performance and
endurance of such a lightweight platform. FFLMM provides precise, proportionate effects in time-critical, network-centric CAS and Armed ISTAR missions against both fixed and moving targets. As these missions frequently require lower cost, lightweight platforms, there is an increasing need for suitable lightweight but effective weapons. FFLMM fills the emerging gap in the global weapons market for a highly-effective, accurate, low-collateral-damage weapon - one that is effective against all static and moving, conventional and asymmetric threats in both open and cluttered environments. |
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 3x Thales FFLMM on a single pylon fitted on an AT-6 aircraft at Farnborough 2014 |
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The
use of existing LMM modular building blocks produces a weapon that can
be easily integrated on multiple manned and unmanned aircraft systems.
Lightweight platforms, particularly UAS, require payloads that generate
a minimal impact on their aerodynamic performance and endurance. With
a length of 700mm and mass of less than 6 kg, the low-drag FFLMM munition
fulfills these challenging requirements. FFLMM employs sophisticated Inertial Navigation and GPS subsystems, which together with terminal guidance provided by a state-of-the-art Semi Active Laser seeker, achieves extremely accurate and safe man-in-the-loop targeting. |
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